St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-11

cent speech defined their attitude to the
two national parties. Their object was
solely to establish in this country the
scheme of civil service reform gotten up
bv them in imitation of the English sys-
TEN, and they expected to succeed by
holding the balance of power, al
though perfectly we'll aware that
neither the Republican nor the Demo
cratic party sympathized with their
aims. That is to say, the Mugwumps
think that they can carry their point,
although opposed by the hostility or in
difference of the great mass of the voters
of the country. This seems On the face
of it to indicate that they have very
high estimate of their own ability, but
history is full of instances where small
but active minority has dragged
along a big majority. The Mugwumps
so far have exerted an influence and
achieved results far out of proportion to
their numbers. 1t should be borne in
mind, however, that the reform they sup
port is almost wholly executive in its
character. The civil service reform act
conferred a general authority, the exer-
else of which was necessarily left
to the Presidents discretion. The sue
cess of the Mugwumps has been due
solely to the Presidents personal subser-
viency to their control, and President
of different views of duty could upset
their scheme at any time by stroke of
his pen. Civil service reform cannot be
said to have any elements Of permanency
until it obtains the support of the mass
of the people.
x*x
1nasmuch as public opinion North and
South, the constitution of the United
States, international law and common
sense stand immovably in the way, it
would seem that no holder of Confeder-
ate bonds would be fool enough to i'm
agine that they would ever be paid. When
the Confederacy disappeared everything
that gave substance, security or hope to
its notes and bonds disappeared also.
There is, however, a Confederate States
bondholders' committee in London, which
is making most encouraging assurances
to English spectators as to their chances.
One of their advertisements states that
"never has the position of the bondholders
been so hopeful as to-day. Derision and
ridicule have practically ceased; public
opinion in the United States is now favor
able to a considerate discussion of the
Confederate debt, and footing of incalcu
liable Importance has been obtained in the
United States Congress" The reference
to Congress is rather mysterious. Per-
haps the London spectators who have
been collecting Confederate relics have
heard that our government has more
revenue than Congress knows what to
do with, and think that rather than re-
duce taxes that body will use the sur
plus to redeem Confederate bonds.
~
Mr.. Henry George, in his paper, the
Standard, is at pains to show the relative
strength of the Democratic, Republican
and Labor parties in New York State.
He says it is generally assumed that the
new organizations strength is confined
to New York city. This, he says, is
mistake SIT is organized in Brooklyn
and other cities, and is nov facing the
Democratic party as its only real antag-
onist." He declares that there is every
reason to believe that it will sweep the
city this fall and hold the key to the sit
uation in New York in 1888. "Should
such prove the case, and the Democrats
lose the State" says Mr.. George, ''the lat
ter organization may as well abandon all
hope of .electing it's candidate for the
presidency, should the Labor party have
a candidate in the field" Perhaps Mr.
George has presidential aspirations and
looks for Democratic Endorsement.
**x
The burning of the Opera Comique in
Paris has revived the old agitation about
fire-escapes and exits from theatres.
Nothing, however, is likely to come of
the discussion. People will take chances,
despite railroad disasters, shipwrecks,
collisions at sea, and all the other horrors
that are chronicled from day to day, and
so it will go on tillthe resurrection morn.
The Opera Comique was built in 1888,
and was known to be death-trap. But
its manager made money, gave good
shows, and the people were satisfied.
Thus curiosity ever plays into the hands
Of greed, regardless of what it pays for
its whistle, even though it may be pur-,
chased with life itself.
***
The May report of the Department Of
Agriculture gives an average condition
Of s5.s, against eS1 for the previous
Unless there be sufficient rain,
the prospect for big wheat crop is not
catering. Still the chances are that the
corn yield will balance the loss in wheat.
KEPT THE BABY FOR A DEBT.
How Mrs. Neinger Sought to Collect
Board Bill from Mrs. Gebedie.
A decidedly novel case, in which the
mother of an infant sought to recover the
child from woman who retained it as Sc
curity for debt, yesterday came before Jus
lice Ford at Jefferson Market for adJudlca-
lion.